Lampard blow deepens Hodgson's midfield concerns

Lampard blow deepens Hodgson's midfield concerns

Post categories: football

Phil McNulty | 19:23 UK time, Thursday, 31 May 2012

Frank Lampard experienced his highest high when he finally lifted the Champions League trophy as Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena on 19 May - now he faces the grim reality that his England career at the highest level is over.

Lampard, who will be 34 in June, will know the thigh injury that rules him out of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukrakine effectively means his days of representing England at major tournaments are over.

Chelsea's midfielder spoke with brutal honesty about what Euro 2012 meant to him when he faced the media at England's Hertfordshire headquarters this week, admitting: "It possibly is my last chance with England.

"I don't see myself retiring or taking myself out of it in the near future. But I'm no fool and I know that age is a factor and, at international level, you don't go on forever."

Comment :

I hink this is the last chance to him , but now that final opportunity has been taken away by an injury suffered in training on Wednesday, meaning bitter disappointment for a player who has been an integral part of England's planning at major tournaments since Euro 2004 in Portugal. Lampard has sometimes not received the full credit he deserves for his professionalism, maturity and his goalscoring ability while winning 90 caps. What he has achieved has often been lost amid the debate of whether he can play alongside new England captain Steven Gerrard at international level. And while he would, in all probability, have been on the bench for England's opening game against France in Donetsk on 11 June, few players in the squad would have been better prepared or more determined to take their chance when it presented itself. Lampard's injury may not only mean the end of his participation in Euro 2012. There is the real possibility it will be the end of his England career as Hodgson will inevitably look to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil once matters are concluded in Poland and Ukraine.a

Drogba was key to Chelsea's Champions League glory

Drogba was key to Chelsea's Champions League glory

By Mandeep Sanghera BBC Sport

Didier Drogba can make his exit after eight years at Chelsea knowing it is mission accomplished.

The Ivorian centre forward, who scored the winning penalty as Chelsea beat Bayern Munich to win the European Cup, announced on Tuesday that he was leaving Stamford Bridge.

Time right to move on - Drogba

He was signed for £24m in 2004 from French club Marseille as one of Roman Abramovich's key initial signings after the Russian billionaire took over the London outfit - and Drogba can now sign off having delivered the one trophy Abramovich craved more than any other.

Comment :

If anyone deserved a Champions League winner's medal it was the powerful striker - he had previously lost in one final, three semi-finals, one quarter-final and twice in the last 16. But, on Saturday, the Ivory Coast striker scored the decisive spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out at the Allianz Arena to erase all those previous scars. Despite being a player who consistently delivered for Chelsea - he scored nine goals in nine finals - Europe's top competition always looked destined to elude him. Drogba, though, maintained the faith. Accused of being an "actor" by some because of his theatrics, in Munich he put in a performance more in keeping with the power and poise which made him such a feared opponent for defenders, scoring with a bullet header to equalise against Bayern before converting the crucial penalty.

WILL WEMBLEY BE THE GARDEN OF EDEN HAZARD?

EDEN HAZARD will get an early chance to settle in to what Chelsea fans hope will become his second home as Roman Abramovich’s summer of spending looks set to keep them on the trophy trail.

Comment :

I think the club were the first visitors to Wembley for the 2007 FA Cup final and since then have been back 10 more times . So what better place to show fans they are getting their full £32million-worth? Certainly, it is to Belgium’s continued disappointment that he will not be able to use Euro 2012 as a stage to show his wares. It is now 10 years since the nation qualified for a major tournament .Nevertheless, spirits are high in a squad dubbed “the new golden generation” and expectations are strengthened for the 2014 World Cup after a draw that includes Scotland and Wales in the group stage.It is something of a sea change for Belgian football in just four years. Not too long ago, the nation’s football could be encapsulated in one man: Vincent Kompany. Now, the Manchester City captain is in good company.Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, defender Thomas Vermaelen, midfielder Marouane Fellaini and strikers Moussa Dembele and Romelu Lukaku are no strangers to Premier League crowds. And Jan Vertonghen, currently of Ajax, may soon join them at Tottenham, while Thibaut Courtois has already been snapped up by Chelsea.

Aston Villa appoint Paul Lambert from Norwich City as new boss

Aston Villa appoint Paul Lambert from Norwich City as new boss

Aston Villa have confirmed that Norwich boss Paul Lambert is their new manager.

The 42-year-old succeeds his fellow Scot Alex McLeish, who was sacked the day after the final game of the season.

Lambert, who becomes Villa's fourth boss in less than two years, guided the Canaries to back-to-back promotions from League One before finishing 12th in last season's Premier League.

Comment  :

I think Paul Lambert is clearly one of the brightest young managers in the country and his work at Norwich was hugely impressive. Now his task is to revive a Villa squad that has gone backwards since the departure of Martin O'Neill two years ago. The next Norwich City manager will have a great squad of players, a robust and competitive budget and excellent facilities to work with - as well as the superb backing home and away of fantastic supporters . He will now have the task of reviving Villa's fortunes after a disappointing campaign for the West Midlands club which saw them finish only two points above the relegation zone. He is expected to be given money to spend after McLeish spent last season reducing what he described as an "astronomical" wage bill. It is expected that he will be able to reinvest any money he generates from the sale of current Villa players.

Euro 2012: Andriy Shevchenko ready for final fling

Euro 2012: Andriy Shevchenko ready for final fling
By Simon Austin BBC Sport

Andriy Shevchenko has already created one of football's most compelling tales. He's the boy from a tiny Soviet village blighted by the Chernobyl disaster who became Europe's best footballer .Now he wants to create a fitting final chapter. "It would be something impossible, unbelievable, to win Euro 2012," the captain of co-hosts Ukraine tells BBC Sport. "But it's a dream - something you have to think about, something you have to try for."



Comment : I think he is dreaming about it and it gives him so much motivation , Shevchenko is no longer assured of a place in coach Oleg Blockhin's starting line-up though, and his Dynamo Kiev team-mate Andriy Yarmolenko is now the focal point of Ukraine's attack. Ukraine are in Group D, alongside Sweden, England and France, which is the most difficult group in the tournament. I think he will have lots of pressure on them, he adds, "but, then again, when the whole stadium supports him, I think they will show their best. But, If he is good enough to pass the group it will give him confidence, make him stronger and then… you never know,